from hobby to hustle: 168 candles

When Regan first poured a candle in her parents' kitchen, she never imagined it would spark a full-time business. What began as a playful project inspired by an inside joke quickly transformed into 168 Candles Studio—a brand founded by Regan Cantu, rooted in clean ingredients, cozy scents, and the feeling of home. Over four years (and a whirlwind of life milestones), Regan went from college student and hobbyist to full-time maker, mom, and entrepreneur. With the support of her family, a passion for creating non-toxic candles, and a whole lot of heart, Regan’s story is proof that sometimes the best businesses are born from simple moments.

“I never thought of myself as the creative type... until I poured my first candle.”

where it all began

"I started making candles in 2021. I was a college student taking 18 credit hours and working 4 part-time jobs. I was living with my parents at the time and started to make candles in the kitchen using their stove! Before candles, I would never have described myself as the creative type. I grew up playing sports, and that was always a priority of mine. I had one semester of college left and decided not to play softball so I had a lot of free time on my hands. In my capstone project for college I created a course that would be mandatory for all collegiate student athletes about preparing for life after college. In my research, I found how important it was to have a hobby. I honestly wasn’t sure what my hobby would be and spent the summer trying a few different things just for fun like gardening & baking, two of which I still do today! Making candles wasn’t even a hobby that came to mind but my mother-in-law and I had an inside joke because we had been getting each other candles as gifts for a few years and there’s a funny SNL skit that is like if you don’t know what to get someone just get them a candle. So we started going back-and-forth and I would say that mine was made with soy wax and she found one made in Texas, where they are from and finally I was like I should just make one! So then it began my rabbit hole through YouTube and books learning about all the different types of products, ingredients and different methods! I started making candles for family and friends, and truly never thought it would turn into a business until someone suggested that I should sell these and they wanted to buy them to give to their friends! I signed up for my first event, in the fall of 2021 and I loved it! In this time I also had a mass produced candle that turned one of my walls black and I decided that I wanted to make my candles very clean and nontoxic so that they were safe in the home. In the four years of running my business, I have graduated college, got married, and had my first baby in September!"

milestones & making moves 

"In the four years of running my business, I have graduated college, got married, and had my first baby in September! 168 Candles Studio has always been a creative outlet and a hobby for me until the beginning of 2025. After having my baby, it was time to go back to work full-time and I had many conversations with my husband about what our next moves were and ultimately we decided to take the jump! Now my baby stays home with me while I work from my candle studio in my basement. I feel very blessed that I am able to stay home with my baby and also run and expand my business full-time!"

pouring with purpose

"I use nontoxic fragrance oil, 100% soy wax and crackling wooden wicks! My candles are honestly just a version of what I would want in a perfect candle! I think I was really blown away to see that so many people had the same idea of what they were looking for in a candle!

day in the life as a maker mom

"Everyday looks so different now that I am doing candles full-time and that I have my baby home with me! Having my baby home with me definitely changes up the speed in which I do things, but he has been so great and really goes with the flow, we both are often very flexible! I think that my favorite part of the job is that every day looks different and it’s always a new adventure. Whether I’m answering emails, pouring candles, fulfilling wholesale orders, shipping out online orders, doing marketing photoshoots, or getting ready and going to big events, I am loving it. The first 3 1/2 years that I’ve been doing candles. I’ve always said that none of it feels like work, and I was very interested to see if that feeling would change since jumping into the business full-time, but so far it has just been more fun and doesn’t feel like work, I look forward to it every single day!"

the heart of the brand

"“168” is more than just a name — it’s the number of the road I grew up on, the place where my story began. When I think of candles, I think of the warmth, comfort, and mood they bring into a space — and for me, that feeling has always been tied to home. That’s why I started 168 Candles. Because no matter where life takes us, we all deserve a scent that brings us back to where we feel most at peace. 168 is home. I also started 168 candles at my parents home in their kitchen. Once I did my first event, I fell in love and I cleaned out a spare guest room in their house across the hall from mine and 168 candles studio was born! It was a sweet small space but it had plenty of room for me to start." 

built with love

"I founded 168 Candles Studio, but it has been built with so many hands. My husband, who was my boyfriend when I started, has always been so supportive. He is always helping when he can, especially moving the heavy boxes haha! My mom and sister are HUGE game players! My mom has been involved since day one and while I was living at home finishing college we spent a lot of time working on candles together and it made us very close. My sister is a florist and in her free time she helps me as much as she can. They are truly rockstars because I had my first baby in September (aka the beginning of candle season) and they shipped out orders and went to work markets and events. It was really special and I feel so blessed to have them, I couldn’t do it without them. My dad and brothers are always doing the heavy lifting, literally! Especially when I was pregnant and couldn’t lift the 50 pound boxes of wax, everyone would come over and grab a box. The examples above are just my family members, I've been blessed with so many friends willing to lend a hand. My friends will take wicks home and put the stoppers / stickers on them, layer tissue paper, label bags, etc while they watch tv. They have even stepped in to help work markets if I am double
booked."

from supplies to support

"Makesy has helped soo much, in my making journey. My jars and wicks are the main items I use from them, and I truly believe it plays a big role in the quality products. They also have amazing customer service, if I ever have any questions or issues, they are very quick to reply! They have SO much information, especially when you are
just getting started. Their team is so sweet and I really enjoy talking to them!"

follow the glow of 168 Candles

Stay inspired by Regan’s creative journey as she builds 168 Candles Studio with heart, home, and a whole lot of hustle. From behind-the-scenes pours to market days and everyday maker moments, Regan shares the real-life magic of turning passion into purpose. Follow along for candle inspiration, small business vibes, and a peek into what it’s like to grow a brand while doing what you love!

Instagram: @168candles
Website: 168candlesstudio.com